EU ambassadors back extended border controls

EU ambassadors on Wednesday backed a European Commission proposal to extend internal border controls for a maximum of six months.

Five countries in the border-free Schengen area — Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and non-EU Norway — have reintroduced temporary border controls since September because of the migration crisis. Thanks to today’s agreement, they will now be able to keep those controls in place.

The Commission put forward its proposal on May 4, explaining that its decision was because of ongoing problems in Greece — although it insisted that the move was not aimed at punishing Athens. This was supported by the ambassadors.

“The Hellenic Republic is, mainly due to its geographical situation, particularly affected by these developments,” states the draft Council decision, seen by POLITICO. It will be given final approval at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday.

Hungary and Slovenia complained about the decision to maintain border controls at the Austria-Hungary and Austria-Slovenia borders, according to diplomats. Budapest complained there is no longer a need for them, as the Western Balkan migratory route is now closed and the flow of migrants has all but stopped.

Austria wanted to keep its options open and have the right to impose controls at other points on its border, but Italy rejected that suggestion, saying the regulation states that controls can remain only at specific crossing points, a diplomat said. Italy was concerned that Vienna could block the Brenner pass on the Italy-Austria border.

Austria’s line was rejected and the list of blocked borders is the same as before. The five countries can “maintain proportionate temporary border controls for a maximum period of six months” at the following borders:

Austria-Hungary land border;

Austria-Slovenia land border;

Germany-Austria land border;

Danish ports with ferry connections to Germany;

Denmark-Germany land border;

Swedish harbors in the south and west, plus at the Öresund bridge connecting Sweden and Denmark;

Norwegian ports with ferry connections to Denmark, Germany and Sweden.

The only change introduced by the ambassadors is that member countries would have to “exchange views” with their neighbors before extending border controls, “ensuring that internal border controls are only carried out at those parts of the internal border where it is considered necessary and proportionate.” That was added at the request of Hungary, although if there are disagreements, the controls could remain in place anyway.